The biggest security threat is employees and contractors acting on emails that they don't recognize as having malicious intent. This can be in the form of an employee navigating to an imitation website — and then giving up their credentials. It can be complying with a request for a transfer of funds from an impersonation email that originates from the CEO's address.

Because it's so easy to be deceived by a well-crafted email, employees should have ongoing security awareness training. Being on the lookout for suspicious emails needs to be top of mind.

The combination of strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) is the best way to stop employee online accounts from being hacked. This is achieved by using both company-wide password management software and MFA management software. A password management solution also improves employee productivity, as people spend less time looking for passwords and requesting password resets.

Other network security layers include email security, backup services, dark web monitoring, firewall management, and antivirus & critical patch management.

Many Maple Grove businesses and nonprofits prefer to outsource their IT needs to a managed services company, as they gain on-demand access to a wider range of IT skills and experience compared to using an in-house resource to provide help desk support.